Pulitzer Winner Mark Fiore's iPhone Cartoon App Rejected Because It 'Ridicules Public Figures'

niemanlab.org:

But there's just one problem. In December, Apple rejected his iPhone app, NewsToons, because, as Apple put it, his satire "ridicules public figures," a violation of the iPhone Developer Program License Agreement, which bars any apps whose content in "Apple's reasonable judgement may be found objectionable, for example, materials that may be considered obscene, pornographic, or defamatory."

Read the whole story: niemanlab.org

Comments

[revelmob]

07:03 AM on 06/01/2010

People seem to have forgotten about KAL's collection of the best political cartoons: http://www.revelmob.com/ikal-book

They are incredibly witty and provocative, but because Apple did approve it without major hick-ups, it seems very few people paid attention to the recent release of the app.

[julioyglesias]

02:30 AM on 04/19/2010

They are a private company. And they do have the right to reject the app. Still there is the company's reputation for free speech... and that is what we can criticize with our free speech.

I bet over time they will give in. Prob. only a matter of time, if the past is prolouge

http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/2009/05/ta052109.html

http://articles.latimes.com/keyword/united-states-foreign-aid-iraq

[LeftRight]

02:09 PM on 04/18/2010

Oh please!!! Americans have been defaming public officials since before there's been Americans!!!!!!

[sandzw007]

05:16 PM on 04/17/2010

Let's at least have one place where decency prevails even if is only one.
Have we all forgotten how to be civil?

[TruEngineHearing]

11:04 AM on 04/18/2010

Okay, we'll use your place. Then we'll let freedom ring everywhere else.

[sandzw007]

04:38 PM on 04/18/2010

Freedoms do have their limits especially in so called civilized countries.
As for Freedom of speech . . .
wikipedia (source)
Freedom of speech is the freedom to speak without censorship and/or limitation. The synonymous term freedom of expression is sometimes used to indicate not only freedom of verbal speech but any act of seeking, receiving and imparting information or ideas, regardless of the medium used. In practice, the right to freedom of speech is not absolute in any country and the right is commonly subject to limitations, such as on "hate speech".

[Emerson Crossjostle]

08:58 PM on 04/16/2010

What else is one to do with public figures?

[RussnCA]

06:37 PM on 04/16/2010

This is particularly ironic... since Mark Fiore's comics appear as short Flash movies... and the iPhone doesn't support Flash. It will be interesting to see how Fiore does it.

[The Recovering Catholic]

12:57 PM on 04/16/2010

Remember Apple's "Think Different" campaign?

Original
“ Here’s to the crazy ones. The misfits. The rebels. The troublemakers. The round pegs in the square holes.

The ones who see things differently. They’re not fond of rules. And they have no respect for the status quo. You can praise them, disagree with them, quote them, disbelieve them, glorify or vilify them.

About the only thing you can’t do is ignore them. Because they change things. They invent. They imagine. They heal. They explore. They create. They inspire. They push the human race forward.

Maybe they have to be crazy.

How else can you stare at an empty canvas and see a work of art? Or sit in silence and hear a song that’s never been written? Or gaze at a red planet and see a laboratory on wheels?

While some see them as the crazy ones, we see genius. Because the people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world, are the ones who do."

Whatever happened to their philosophy?

I'm an Apple customer, and I'm disappointed in their censorship.

[blimie]

11:21 AM on 04/16/2010

That's censorship.

[ebanks84]

08:01 PM on 04/15/2010

It's about time somebody shows some integrity in the tech and media field. I praise Apple for their stance and requirement to show respect to renown figures.

You go Apple!

[TruEngineHearing]

11:01 AM on 04/18/2010

Absurd. Can't you make your own choices?

This is a completely unacceptable practice by Apple - legal, but against my values and, after reading some of your comments elsewhere , I would've thought yours too. My error...

[Peets101]

06:58 PM on 04/15/2010

Ya know... Ridiculing private figures just isn't as much fun because nobody knows what the heck you are talking about.

[latia65]

07:40 PM on 04/16/2010

anybody remember the "DC Follies?"

[2CLEVER]

05:43 PM on 04/15/2010

ridiculing politicans...isnt that redundant??

[begtse]

04:35 PM on 04/15/2010

This might have been OK had he not made fun of liberals.

[ROLtheWolf]

05:35 PM on 04/15/2010

I don't know that this artist does ridicule liberals exclusively.

[2CLEVER]

05:44 PM on 04/15/2010

they can do that all by themselves

[KataVideo]

06:16 PM on 04/15/2010

Fiore seems pretty fair.. and I don't recall him making fun of Liberals. are you just spreading misinformation?

[MajorKong]

04:05 PM on 04/15/2010

Ridiculing public figures is a great American tradition.

[ROLtheWolf]

05:35 PM on 04/15/2010

Yes it is!

[ebanks84]

08:02 PM on 04/15/2010

Well, thank goodness for a change that matters!

[ProperGanda]

02:38 PM on 04/15/2010

Seems like they are too scared someone would be "offended"

[thegloriouscause]

10:41 AM on 04/15/2010

if it's on the internet, it can still be seen with any smart phone, just not via an app.